18/04/2017 : Taff's Gloversblog : The Way It Turned Out And The Way Forward

18 April 2017 : The Way It Turned Out And The Way Forward

If ever Darren Way needed 3 points – it was yesterday.

In the last few weeks there has been a swell of unrest at how the team have been playing and the tactics employed by Darren Way. This has lead to many calling for him to go. In this entry of the blog I look at the stats of DW’s reign thus far, identify where it went wrong, and discuss how to put things right.

Given the level of criticism levelled at the team and DW in particular I doubt Monday's huge result will satisfy those who wish to see DW given his P45.

Statistics:

The following was mined from the Ciderspace results data using only league matches (any inaccuracies are entirely my own!).

What then can we pick up from this data? Firstly it’s clear to see that after he was appointed DW enjoyed the natural temporary increase in form that comes from appointing a new manager, which was amplified by DW being a YTFC legend. I don’t think any fans have any issue with the job he did last year and the mire that he got us out of.

Similarly if we consider the first half of this season I would say that DW built a decent, if not world beating side. The stats show a balance between scoring/conceding and wins/losses – therefore to see your side mid-table is understandable, and considering the events of the season before most fans would probably accept mid-table as growth and improvement if we had ended up in 12th in May.

However in 2017 this seems to have all gone to pieces. Our form has taken a nosedive and understandably this is the cause for the current unrest aimed at DW and the team. This has been compared to Paul Sturrock’s last 20-odd matches in charge, which resulted in him being shown the door, with obvious questions being asked as to why DW hasn’t gone the same Way (pun intended).

Something has clearly gone wrong since Christmas. But what? And how does it get fixed?

The Causes:

It may a bit simplistic but I attribute this whole mess to three issues and the subsequent failure to address said issues. These three issues are three players: Darren Ward, Otis Khan, and Ryan Hedges.

*Ward came of bench first game of season, a 2-0 win over Notts County – here that match is recorded as Without Ward as he came on after 71 mins when we were already 2-0 up. He also came on against Hartlepool in the away draw (1-1) after 32 minutes – here he was on the pitch for both goals so I have taken this as a ‘With Ward’.

I haven’t added today’s result against Crewe – partially because I’m writing this before the match and partially because at the moment fate has painted some nice round comparisons.

We’ve played nearly twice as many matches without our club captain, and only gathered the same amount of points in those matches. We’ve also conceded twice as many goals – but given we have played twice as many matches that could be understandable. Its clear Ward is not the sole reason for our issues, but we miss his leadership as well as his ability. For example I have no doubt that we would have left St. James Park with 3 points had he been in the side.

We lost Ward to a swollen knee around the Accrington draw having already had to ration his appearances, and shortly thereafter we lost Ryan Hedges and Otis Khan (who has had a few spells out). The latter two being vital for us going forward, we therefore lost our way (that one was unintended).

Losing these players just before January was the best time to lose them (if you had too) as we could replace them almost immediately. It would have been far worse if for example we had we lost them to season-ending injuries in February without the opportunity to replace them.

That being said, we had the opportunity to replace them and frankly we didn’t. The recruitment by DW in the window has proved to be a disaster. It was plain to see we needed somebody to step in for Ward, and we needed to replace the departed Hedges. If you continue to play the same 4-3-3 system then you need to replace lost players with like replacements (wingers) – not strikers.

Its quite clear for example that DW got fobbed off by Swansea with Owain Jones – “sorry we’ve sold Ryan, try this other guy he’s just as good.” He’s not, plus he’s not a winger.

One terrible transfer window doesn’t make a bad manager but this isn’t the only thing DW has got wrong this year. His stubborn refusal to change from the 4-3-3 system is part of the problem. Maybe he thinks that changing formation is somehow admitting a weakness – but to be clear, if you don’t have the players to play 4-3-3 then change it to something else. It’s not rocket science. Adapt and survive.

Last season DW came in and united a side to fight against relegation and adversity. This year relegation has snuck up on us. Trying to reinvigorate a side you’ve run all season is a whole different matter when compared to last year, and simply put DW hasn’t been able to get the players fighting again.

That being said I think it has been completely missed by people that this is DW’s first full season in charge in management anywhere. He’s not the finished article and is still very much learning his new trade. I wonder had Sir Gary Johnson been at the helm whether the team would have been taken away for team bonding or given a week off to get away from the negativity around the club. GJ has the experience to know what to do in those situations, obviously DW doesn’t. More on that later.

Moving Forward:

How then does the club fix this mess? How do things get turned around?

I’m going to start by saying something probably universally unpopular: Darren will not get the sack, and I don’t think he should get the sack.

I’ll let that sink in.

Why won’t DW get sacked? Simply as he has either 18 months or 2 years left on his contract and the club can’t afford to pay him off and replace him. The only potential replacement in that situation would be Skivo and that’s not really a change. If looking outside the club for a replacement, I think we all acknowledge that with the budget we have and the board we have the likelihood of attracting an experienced or big name manager is pretty slim. The problems at YTFC run deeper than the 20-odd games this calendar year and replacing Way would just be papering over the cracks.

The problem as far as I see it is that DW has no-one to seek advice from. He is the most senior person on the footballing side, in his first season as a manager. Let’s be clear the people above him (the board, JF and NH) collectively know diddly-squat about football. Here lies a problem.

This summer is vital, I seem to say this every summer, and one of the key signings will be a Director of Football. DW developed his own style of football – fast, tricky wingers (Hedges and Khan) feeding a mobile target man(Eaves), a midfield three built of a defensive destroyer (Lawless) a passer (Dolan) and an engine (Dawson) in front of a back four with attacking full backs. This worked before Christmas to an extent. The problem is when it broke, DW didn’t know how to fix it, and that is where a Director of Football could assist.

But who? The person would need to have years of experience, ideally having been successful and have a link to the West Country. Potentially nearing retirement and looking for a part time role where you don’t have the stress of daily training etc. The obvious choice for me would have been Paul Sturrock, were it not for the obvious. Maybe Steve Rutter? Or if his health problems dictated a back seat role maybe Sir Gary – but that’s pretty unlikely whilst JF retains his vice-like grip on the chairmanship.

That’s not the only investment that is needed behind the scenes. I would love to see the club properly invest in producing and developing our assets, and by that I mean youth. The first team currently are trained by DW and TS with a part time goalkeeping coach as well. Simply put, this is not enough. Were the club to retain a dedicated defensive coach (TS has not filled this adequately in my opinion), and attacking coach amongst others then performances could only improve. Far too often our players show potential, but only go on to show that potential when they have left for other clubs. We simply don’t get the best out of the players whilst we have them.

I would also suggest that we could use our relationships with other clubs to do this at a lower cost. We loan youngsters from Swansea, why not arrange for a coach to spend a few months with us? Swansea’s younger coaches get exposure to ‘real’ football and we get more staff. After a couple months they go back and we bring in someone from Tottenham (for example). The coaches also get first-hand evidence on how the loanees are doing. Why stop there? We have issues with keeping our players concentrated for 90+ minutes – why not consult with Somerset CC? Batsmen and fielders alike have to concentrate all day. Fitness issues? Lets see if Bath rugby can help.

I would hope that if we can invest in the academy and get some coaches in to develop our players we could follow the Crewe model – ironic maybe given today’s result – today’s Crewe side had 5 academy graduates in first XI. Two of which, Turton (the right back) and Garratt (keeper) will be sold for decent money at some point I’m sure.

I may have drifted off from the original topic of DW’s future here, but my position is this: DW lacks the experience to guide our team, he needs help, he won’t get sacked. Having identified how to help him I hope the board take that further by investing off the pitch.

The phrase: pie in the sky, or a similar reference to pigs with wings comes to mind!

A good assessment.Agree that problems in second half of season due to poor recruitment in January and failure to modify tactics to reflect changes in available personnel. DW is inexperienced manager and has inadequate support to help him.
18/04/2017 12:03:01

Green Commuter said ...

Not much there that I would disagree with at all - a thoughtful piece of analysis. I would concur about DW - over recent months it has become increasingly obvious that he has had no tangible support and in fact has unfairly carried the burden, via the results, for much of the club's current shortcomings.

Whilst I can see that your recommendations for remedy would undoubtedly make a positive difference I cannot see them being sanctioned, in fact nothing that has cost implications, however small. The dictatorship that currently runs the club (the fringe directors are there for show) has a plan in place that merely appears to want to leverage the land asset that has been skilfully put out of reach of the football club; put bluntly the eventual failure of the football club could well provide the 'silver lining' to the beneficial shareholder owners of the holding company.

From a personal perspective I have never felt so disenchanted with my club - have been supporting them since 1967 and as with many others have seen some pretty poor football and lean times through those years - but always felt there was a 'togetherness'. It is almost unbelievable that the euphoria from 2013 has evaporated so quickly; I even have to admit that there was part of me that resigned myself with a final relegation that it might stir some action at the ownership level, through a supporter revolt or something of that ilk. Instead, the 3-0 saving victory, could just lead to further inertia.

So as I sit here, pondering whether to renew my season ticket, I have to confess that my current thinking is 'no', because to do so supports the club's current owners and their murky dealings and totally inadequate approach to supporters. I may yet, and probably will, change my mind because my bond with my club has endured far longer than my relationship with the owners.

But something has to change - something must change. Is the Supporters Trust the way to challenge - other clubs have used the approach to achieve greater accountability from the owners. At the moment the current owners seem to feel that they can ride it out - communicate with such bodies on their terms.

I've gone way off topic but feel better to have vented some feelings....I miss the old forums...for me FB and Twitter don't do it quite so well. On Saturday I half wanted to see plastic pigs thrown on the pitch, to see the Thatchers terrace walk out on kick-off for 10 minutes, just to show the level of ill-feeling that there is....because at the moment we have people sitting in the directors box that seem to be hard of hearing, and wouldn't know social media from a social club (or even a marquee).

I'm done....DW has been a bit of a scapegoat for the hierarchy - he's young, very inexperienced and will probably have learnt much from the exposure. Yes, first full season under trying conditions - and I think he's now aware of the limitations of the current club owners' ambitions!
18/04/2017 16:23:42

Paddy H said ...

Excellent article as always. I thought Rutter was the experienced Director of Football for DW? I also don't 100% agree with players not developing at YTFC, but progressing else where. These are the players that spring to mind:

I agree some are slightly debatable as to whether we actually developed them, but I would be interested to hear other people's thoughts.
18/04/2017 18:37:22

Camberwick Green said ...

Absolutely no chance that Darren will be sacked. Probably the case even if we had been relegated. Fact is, he was the least cost option when he was appointed, and probably still is.
Whilst recruitment was inadequate in the January window, he may have been severely constrained by budgetary considerations. He isn't likely to have a prodigious budget next season either.
As we can neither afford to recruit an acceptable seasoned alternative, nor provide that alternative with a bigger budget, replacing Darren is not an option.
In any event, in the circumstances, I don't think Darren deserves to be sacked.
18/04/2017 19:00:49

Mark Budden said ...

Looking at things in a simple way which I always tend to do... I know that one man doesn't make a team but we must get Khan to sign a new contract. He is probably destined to play at a higher level but he might just slip under the radar as he has been out for a few weeks.
I would love the idea of Darren getting more support. His commitment to the club and his enthusiasm is undoubted and he is a top man.Some of that support can come from Skivo but he is rather inexperienced too. I don't know where that experience comes from... shame Harry has taken over at Birmingham! Throughout my working life I have seen examples of a leader being stronger through having a strong deputy.When that deputy has gone then the leader has become instantly weaker.
Whatever the outcome of all this... please no one rubbish Darren the man
18/04/2017 19:38:11

Andy said ...

But who? The person would need to have years of experience, ideally having been successful and have a link to the West Country. Potentially nearing retirement and looking for a part time role where you don’t have the stress of daily training etc. ........Maybe Steve Rutter?
Something of a mismatch here. SR has I believe never played in nor managed in the football league. So, how would he bring years of experience? Both DW & TS are much more experienced in league football.
18/04/2017 19:51:35

John said ...

Green Commuter says it all for me. I started watching Yeovil when I moved to the area in 2000 and discovered a club with a real buzz about it. I committed myself to a season ticket after a couple of years because the crowds were bigger and I wanted to be sure to get my hands on a ticket for the big cup matches. Since we gained promotion to the Championship we have seen that the ambition of the management has not matched that of that successful team.
It is the manner in which which we have slid down the football ladder that has disappointed me. There seems to be no plan to effect a change that will reverse this trend. Why should the club expect me to buy a season ticket when I have no idea who is going to play for the club next August? If the club management doesn't have faith in the supporters they should not expect the supporters to have faith in them and that they will put together at team that will provide entertaining football.
If we genuinely cannot afford to get players of league standard then maybe we should go back to the National League and rebuild from scratch. If we could win a few more matches and score more goals I am sure the crowds would come back.
19/04/2017 09:44:18

Tony Jones said ...

Darren Way is a dedicated young manager who has experienced a tough season competing against bigger, better-funded clubs. He deserves credit for that, and he's a better manager for the experience. Darren is Yeovil, through and through. I admire that. He has my full backing for next season.
20/04/2017 21:04:05

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